Luxury Vinyl Tile’s realistic patterning and glue-less installation boost demand despite uncertain “green” product attributes

A floor does not have to be natural to look natural. And the new natural looks of a number of luxury vinyl tile (LVT) brands – coupled with glue-less installation options — are noticeably boosting LVT sales.

Newer, self-locking installation systems do not require adhesives for installation, and replication improvements mean fabulous imitations of wood, ceramic and other patterns.

“You don’t need adhesive to install these products,” says Ward Malone, store manager at Buddy’s Flooring America in Beavercreek, OH. “So the products much easier to install and repair, they are more indoor-air friendly, and they’re waterproof as well.” Read the rest of this entry »

DuChateau strives for vinyl flooring that is better for people and planet

More mainstream flooring manufacturers are paying attention to the growing controversy over phthalates – a plasticizer – in vinyl flooring, even though studies suggesting a link between phthalates and lowered IQ, endocrine problems and respiratory ailments have been dismissed as independent and fringe.

DuChateau Floors is now making vinyl without phthalates, though the product’s backing, made using recycled content, still may contain trace amounts because old product is recycled by the company.

This switch by DuChateau follows the introduction by competitor Tarkett of its “phthalate-free except for recycled content” vinyl flooring earlier this year.

“Only a very small portion of phthalate-containing plasticizer can be detected from the recycled bottom layer,” says Don Bufalini, western regional sales manager for DuChateau Floors.  “The tile should not really be affected by the phthalates if they are in the bottom layer.” Read the rest of this entry »